Since we are half way through the calendar year and just beginning the fiscal year, it seems like a good time to offer up a potpourri of various and sundry items taken from my July report to council.

Water Grant Application - we are still awaiting final word regarding the status of our third application for funding to replace our primary well and reservoir, make needed repairs and start the expansion of the water system. Hopefully, we will know one way or the other by the time you read this. We did receive a "Final Determination of Categorical Exclusion - State Funding" from DENR. This means that we are exempt from having to complete an environmental assessment for our water system grant. It doesn’t mean we have been awarded the grant, but is a necessary precedent to such an award. In other words, we’re still in the running.

In the meantime, we are still waiting for the word on how much we will receive from the special federal appropriation that U.S. Representative Taylor was successful in having approved last fall. These funds are also earmarked for the water system improvements.

Sewer Lift Station - Utilities Director William Grimes continues to struggle with the pumps at the new sewer lift station. These pumps have failed to perform up to specifications since they were installed last winter. As a consequence, we have not signed off on the project. We had a meeting recently with our consultant and the contractor to discuss options and agreed to finish changes recommended by the pump manufacturer and, if that still does not work, will insist on all new pumps.

Municipal Golf Course - The golf course continues to rack up record rounds and income. We ended up just $150 short of DOUBLING last June’s income and have exceeded the 150 member mark. We had 44 members when Chris Shute started as Golf Course Manager last September! While the course is not yet in the black, we have definitely reversed the downward trend of losses and have great hopes for the future of the course. If you haven’t tried the course this year, you are in for a pleasant surprise.

Personnel Matters - The town has contracted with the North Carolina League of Municipalities to prepare a comprehensive pay and classification study. According to Eugene Dillman of the League, pay and classification studies should be evaluated and revised about every three to six years, depending on the stability of the employment market and the number of changes that have occurred in the local area. The current pay and classification plan was completed by the League in October, 1993, and while we have been following the recommended pay plan, there is a growing concern that we may be falling behind the trend in our employment market. In addition, there have been several changes in job titles and descriptions meaning that we are overdue for this evaluation. To date, our employees have completed questionnaires about their jobs and have been interviewed by the League folks. The final results of the study are due by September.

July Fourth - The Independence Day holiday was safe and mostly sane. We had loads of people and very few incidents. Like Memorial Day, everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. The new Water Park at the beach was and continues to be very popular as does the new boardwalk around the harbor.

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Donnie McCraw, employee of the month, has been with the Town of Lake Lure since August 4, 1997. Prior to his employment with the town, Donnie worked for Bi-Lo Inc. grocery center. He now serves the town as Hydro and Wastewater Treatment Operator. Donnie holds a certification in grade I biological water pollution control. Donnie and his family reside in the Mill Spring area. Thank you Donnie for a great Job.

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REGULAR MEETING: The regular town council meeting was held on Tuesday, July 10, 2001, at 7:00 p.m. at the Lake Lure Municipal Center.

Under the "consent agenda," Council:

* approved the minutes of June 12, 2001 (regular and closed session meeting), June 18, 2001 (recessed regular meeting), and June 22, 2001 (recessed regular meeting);

* approved amendments to the 1997 Municipal Records Retention and Disposition Schedule as submitted by the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, Division of Archives and History; and

* approved request from Stanley Long to hold an annual F-100 truck show "Run to the Rock" on town property at the Lake Lure community center on September 14-16, 2001; town will provide a Mayor's Choice trophy; suspended the town peddling ordinance in order that food, t-shirts, truck parts, and other items may be sold on site during the show; and suspended the town alcohol ordinance in order to serve beer (consumption of beer restricted to the grassy area designated for this event only) during the Friday evening cookout on September 14, 2001.

In other activities, Town Council:

* held a public hearing and adopted Ordinance No. 01-07-10 amending chapter 92 of the Zoning Ordinance;

* heard a report from Eugene Whiteside, Chairman of the Board of Adjustment/Lake Structures Appeals Board;

* tabled the adoption of Ordinance No. 01-07-10A amending Chapter 94 of the Town Code of Ordinances regarding the lake structures regulations relating to moored floating platforms;

* scheduled a joint workshop meeting with the Zoning and Planning Board to be held on August 28th, 9:30 a.m., at the Lake Lure Municipal Center in the Town Council meeting room;

* adopted Ordinance No. 01-07-10B declaring the intent to modify the speed limits on U.S. Highway 64/74A within the Town of Lake Lure and requesting a concurring ordinance by the North Carolina Department of Transportation; and

* tabled the adoption of Ordinance No. 01-07-10C amending Chapter 85 of the town code of ordinances regarding lake use regulations limiting the number of boat permits to be issued per lot.

SPECIAL WORKSHOP MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL AND THE LAKE ADVISORY COMMITTEE: Town Council held a meeting with the Lake Advisory Committee on Tuesday, July 17, 2001, at 9:30 a.m. at the Lake Lure Municipal Center.

Town Council:

* held discussion pertaining to lake issues; and

* adopted Ordinance No. 01-07-17 amending Chapter 85 of the town code of ordinances regarding lake use regulations limiting the number of boat permits to be issued per lot.

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On Wednesday, July 18th and Thursday, July 19th, the Lake Lure Police Department was honored with a visit by the North Carolina Secretary of Crime Control and Public Safety, Bryan Beatty of Raleigh. Secretary Beatty met with Chief Bustle, toured the police department, and fired a Mini-14 rifle on the department’s firing range during a qualification course with area State Highway Patrolmen. Secretary Beatty promised his continued support of area law enforcement efforts and to return to the Gorge often with his family.

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On Thursday, July 19, the Lake Lure Police Department initiated and hosted a seminar by the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement for all area alcohol distributors (on-premise and off-premise retail establishments). Agent Sam Darakjy of the NCALE provided an informative update concerning all current state regulations relating to the sale of alcohol and entertained a question and answer period for distributors. The seminar was well attended and well received by area salespersons, with plans made to offer like seminars every three months to aid local businesses with employee training.

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Last week, Chief Bustle and Fire Coordinator Ron Morgan met with a North Carolina Highway Patrol radio engineer in an attempt to locate an antenna site to improve mobile data terminal (MDT) reception in the Gorge area. A repeater site was located and agreements made to enable Lake Lure’s police vehicles to better utilize mobile data terminals (on-board computers to provide criminal record checks and enhanced communications). The new "repeater" equipment will be provided to our area at no cost to local governments.

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The police department was recently notified of two North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Rehabilitation permit holders in our area, known as "Back in Flight". These fine residents of our area, Danny and Laura Bollinger of Mill Spring, will respond and attempt to assist certain injured wildlife, namely small mammals and songbirds. They can be reached at 828-625-8230.

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Ponder this! How gorgeous a place would Lake Lure be if we could turn criticism into goal accomplishing energy?

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Our vision statement is "Protecting soil and water resources through watershed education and program participation." We accomplish these goals by providing information, technical support, and financial reimbursements. All landowners within our 94 square mile watershed are eligible for assistance through the Upper Broad River Watershed Protection Program. Our programs range from financial assistance in implementing erosion control measures on eroding areas existing prior to October 18, 1999, low interest loan for new construction, stream bank restoration, and riparian conservation easements.

Our watershed protection meetings are held at the Town of Lake Lure Municipal Center. Our meetings are informative with a full report on the implementation of our program objectives and interactive in nature. Occasionally, we invite a guest speaker as in the case of Deanna Doohaluk with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources with the Division of Water Quality section. Attending our last meeting Deanna explained the 1998 Broad River Basinwide Management Plan. She stated that their mission is to restore and protect surface water quality. Their goals are to identify water quality problems, helping to restore those waters, protecting and identifying high resource waters, as well as allowing for economic growth. I have transcribed Deanna’s presentation and will e-mail or mail it to you at your request. The DENR web site address is www.enr.state.nc.us for more information. Also, those of you planning to purchase mountain property or plan to build a mountain home should review information provided by Western North Carolina Tomorrow at web site address www.wnct.org, under the Smart Growth Tools heading click on the Mountain Home Guide.

Recently, I was invited to the National Watershed Forum in Arlington, Virginia. The Forum brought together people working in watershed protection from all over the nation. The facilitated discussion groups developed recommendations for government and private sector concerning policies and action in watershed protection and restoration. I took the opportunity to explain our state efforts in protecting water quality through the Clean Water Management Trust Fund. Our program is a CWMTF project. Mountain Valleys RC&D, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Environmental Quality Institute, the Town of Lake Lure, Chimney Rock, and the public assist us. The CWMTF web site address is www.cwmtf.net for information.

Our next meeting will be held August 22nd at the Town of Lake Lure Municipal Center at 9:00 a.m. Come join us as we continue to develop and implement our watershed protection efforts. We value your input. Please call Pamela Pyles at the Town of Lake Lure at 828-625-9983, ext. 123 for information.

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It's been an exciting time at the golf course! Membership went from 48 to 156 last year. We have already had 129 members renew in July of this year. Revenues since March have increased 90% over last years totals. Rounds are up almost 100%. The new carts have made such a difference in the amount of play we can accommodate. Improvements on the course are still continuing. The new tee on four is now open, and the new tee on five will be opening this month. We now accept credit and debit cards. These improvements on the driving range did not turn out as well as we hoped, but it is better than it was. We are also trying to stock the pro shop with more merchandise. Several of our members have inquired about a handicap system. In order to provide this service, we must first get a computer. This is something we are working on, and as soon as the money can be found we will be purchasing a computer and the necessary software to provide this service to our members.

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Get on the band wagon and help the committee launch the best celebration in 2002. Events are being planned such as street dancing, performances on the point at the gazebo. A parade we hope, landscaping and planting at Memorial Point (in Morse Park), food booths, momentos of Dirty Dancing for sale, and more.

We need your input and contributions. If you can add to our "seed" fund, make the check out to the Town of Lake Lure and indicate in the lower corner "for Diamond Jubilee 2002". Your donation is tax deductible. Donations of $200 will entitle you to an engraved brick within our "Jubilee Pathway". All donations are welcome. This committee will distribute cans marked for Diamond Jubilee contributions throughout town at various locations.

Special thanks to Mary Ann Dalton, Earth Connections and Dalton's General Store for complimentary landscaping designs.

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Nancy Clark Wait, resident of Lake Lure, has been selected as one of the great 100 registered nurses in North Carolina for the year 2001. Mrs. Wait, staff nurse at Mission St. Joseph Hospital, was chosen by a committee of RN's from among nominees across the state of North Carolina. She and the other 99 recipients were selected on the basis of their outstanding professional abilities and commitment to improving health care in their communities. These individuals present a positive, professional image of nursing. Nancy has been a nurse for 19 years.

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Welcome back Barry and Sherry Childs, owners and operators of Childs' Corner Restaurant which will be reopening Monday, July 23, 2001. The hours of service will be 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., seven days a week.

The prescription pickup service by the Medicine Box Pharmacy of Rutherfordton is now underway, on a trial basis, next to Julie's Gourmet at Lakes Edge Shops (formerly Jasmine Hill Shops) in Lake Lure. Those who have used this service have found it quick and convenient. Some folks, however, have said they'll wait to see if this service becomes permanent before they switch. In the interest of keeping this very useful service in the community, you might want to consider using it now. Like any business, Medicine Box of Rutherfordton has to be sure this venture can support itself before committing to the expense of a permanent facility. Call 828-287-7117 for information.

Lakeside Chapel Worship Service, sponsored by Chimney Rock Baptist Church, began on Sunday, May 6, 2001 and extend through October 14, 2001 from 9:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. The Lakeside chapel is located across from the Lake View Exxon Store, Memorial Highway 64/74-A. Everyone is welcome to come worship.

Lake Lure Newcomers invite those who are new residents in Lake Lure (24 months or less) to join them in various activities which include: potluck, gourmet, out'n about, theater, bridge/poker, book club, and hiking. Anyone interested in becoming a member, call Fred Noble or Jeanine Noble at 828-625-8706.

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